Nearly five months after the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, its head priest Acharya Satyendra Das on Monday complained that the temple’s roof has started leaking following the heavy rainfall in the city.
Acharya Satyendra Das also alleged that there is no proper way to drain out the water from the roof.
"It is very surprising that engineers from all over the country are building the Ram temple. The temple was inaugurated on January 22. But, no one knew that if it rains, the roof will leak. It is surprising that the roof of a world-famous temple is leaking. Why did this happen?," Das told media persons.
Talking separately to news agency ANI, the temple priest said the sanctum sanctorum where the idol of Ram Lalla was installed had started leaking in the first rain.
“Attention should be paid to the matter and to find out what was missing. It is very important. There is no space to drain the water from the roof. It would become difficult to offer prayers at the roof if there is heavy rainfall,” he said.
Reacting to the temple priest’s claims, Sri Ram Mandir Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra said there is no design or construction issue.
"I am in Ayodhya. I saw the rainwater dropping from the first floor. This is expected because Guru Mandap is exposed to the sky as the second floor and completion of Shikhar will cover this opening. I also saw some seepage from the conduit as this work on the first floor is in progress. On completion, the conduit will be closed,” he told ANI.
“There is no drainage in the Sanctum Santorum because all the Mandaps have measured slope for clearance of water and the water in Sanctum Santorum is manually absorbed. Moreover, the devotees are not performing Abhishek on the deity. There is no design or construction issue. The Mandaps which are open may get rainwater drops which was debated but the decision was to keep them open as per Nagar architectural norms," he further said.
Meanwhile, a political row has erupted over the temple priest’s allegations with the Congress accusing the BJP of indulging in corruption in the temple construction and building of civic facilities in Ayodhya.
"Be it the coffin of the martyrs or the temple of God, all these have become opportunities for corruption for the BJP. Even the symbols of faith and purity in the country are just opportunities of loot for them," Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai alleged.
